Dramatis Perfonæ.

ON Pedro, Prince of Arragon.

D Leonato, Governor of Meffina.

Don John, Bastard-Brother to Don Pedro. Claudio, a young Lord of Florence, Favourite to Don Pedro.

Benedick, a young Lord of Padua, favour'd likewife by Don Pedro.

Balthafar, Servant to Don Pedro.

Antonio, Brother to Leonato.

Borachio, Confident to Don John.
Conrade, Friend to Borachio.

Innogen, Wife to Leonato.

Hero, Daughter to Leonato and Innogen.
Beatrice, Neice to Leonato.

Margaret,}

Urfula,

two Gentlewomen attending on Hero.

A Frier, Messenger, Watch, and other Attendants.

SCENE Melina.

Much

Enter Leonato, Innogen, Hero and Beatrice, with a Meffenger.

LEONATO.

Learn in this Letter, that Don Pedro of Arragon comes this Night to Messina.

Meff. He is very near by this; he was not three Leagues off when I left him.

Leon. How many Gentlemen have you loft in this Action?

Meff. But few of any fort, and none of Name.

Leon. A Victory is twice it felf, when the Atchiever brings home full number; I find here that Don Pedro hath bestowed much Honour on a young Florentine, call'd Claudio.

Mess. Much deferv'd on his Part, and equally remembred by Don Pedro, he hath born himself beyond the Promife of his Age, doing in the Figure of a Lamb, the Feats of a Lion, he hath indeed better better'd Expectation, than you must expect of me to tell you how.

Leon. He hath an Uncle here in Melfina will be very much glad of it.

Meff. I have already delivered him Letters, and there ap pears much Joy in him, even fo much, that Joy could not fhew it felf modeft enough, without a Badge of Bitterness. Leon. Did he break out into Tears? Meff. In great measure.

VOL. I.

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Leon.

Leon. A kind overflow of Kindness; there are no Faces truer, than those that are fo wafh'd; how much better is it to weep at Joy, than to joy at Weeping?

Beat. I pray you, is Signior Mountanto return'd from the Wars, or no?

Meff. I know none of that Name, Lady, there was none fuch in the Army of any fort.

Leon. What is he that you ask for, Neice?

Hero. My Coufin means Signior Benedick of Padua. Meff. O he is return'd, and as pleasant as ever he was. Beat. He fet up his Bills here in Melfina, and challeng'd Capid at the flight; and my Uncle's Fool reading the Challenge, fubfcrib'd for Cupid, and challeng'd him at the Burbolt. I pray you, how many hath he kill'd and eaten in thefe Wars? But how many hath he kill'd? for indeed I promise to eat all of his killing.

Leon. 'Faith, Neice, you tax Signior Benedick too much, but he'll meet with you, I doubt it not.

Meff. He hath done good Service, Lady, in thofe Wars. Beat. You had mufty Victuals, and he hath holp to eat it; he's a very valiant Trencher-man, he hath an excellent Stomach. Melf. And a good Soldier too, Lady.

Beat. And a good Soldier to a Lady: But what is he to a Lord ?

Meff. A Lord to a Lord, a Man to a Man, ftuft with all honourable Virtues.

Beat. It is fo indeed, he is no lefs than a ftuft Man: but for the ftuffing well; we are all Mortal.

Leon. You must not, Sir, mistake my Neice; there is a kind of merry War betwixt Signior Benedick and her; they never meet, but there is a Skirmish of Wit between them.

Beat. Alas, he gets nothing by that. In our laft Conflict, four of his five Wits went halting off, and now is the whole Man govern'd with one: So that if he have Wit enough to keep himself warm, let him bear it for a difference between himself and his Horfe. For it is all the Wealth that he hath left, to be known a reasonable Creature. Who is his Companion now? He hath every Month a new fworn Brother. Meff. Is it poffible?

Beat. Very eafily poffible; he wears his Faith but as the fashion of his Hat, it ever changes with the next Block.

Me.

Meff. I fee, Lady, the Gentleman is not in your Books. Beat. No, and he were, I would burn my Study. But I pray you who is his Companion? Is there no young Squarer now, that will make a Voyage with him to the Devil?

Meff. He is moft in the Company of the right noble Claudio.

Beat. O Lord, he will hang upon him like a Disease; he is fooner caught than the Peftilence, and the taker runs prefently mad. God help the noble Claudio, if he have caught the Benedick, it will coft him a thoufand Pound e'er it be cur'd.

Meff. I will hold Friends with you, Lady.

Beat. Do good Friend.

Leon. You'll ne'er run mad, Neice,

Beat. No, not 'till a hot January.

Melf. Don Pedro is approach'd.

Enter Don Pedro, Claudio, Benedick, Balthazar and
Don John.

Pedro. Good Signior Leonato, you are come to meet your trouble: The fashion of the World is to avoid Coft, and you encounter it.

Leon. Never came Trouble to my Houfe in the likeness of your Grace; for, Trouble being gone, Comfort should remain: But when you depart from me, Sorrow abides, and Happiness takes his Leave.

Pedro. You embrace your Charge moft willingly: I think this is your Daughter.

Leon. Her Mother hath many times told me fo.!
Bene. Were you in doubt, that you askt her?

Leon. Signior Benedick, no, for then were you a Child. Pedro. You have it full Benedick, we may guefs by this what you are, being a Man, truly the Lady Fathers her felf; be happy, Lady, for you are like an honourable Father..

Bene. If Signior Leonato be her Father, fhe would not have his Head on her Shoulders for all Messina, as like him as fhe is.

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Beat. I wonder that you will still be talking, Signior Benedick, no Body marks you.

Bene. What my dear Lady Difdain! are you yet living?

Beat. Is it poffible Difdain should die, while fhe hath fuch meet Food to feed it, as Signior Benedick? Courtefie it self must convert to Difdain, if you come in her Prefence.

Bene. Then is Courtefie a Turn-coat, but it is certain I am lov'd of all Ladies, only you excepted; and I would I could find in my Heart that I had not an hard Heart, for truly I love none.

Beat. A dear Happiness to Women, they would elfe have been troubled with a pernicious Sutor. I thank God and my cold Blood, I am of your Humour for that; I had rather hear my Dog bark at a Crow, than a Man fwear he loves me.

Bene. God keep your Ladifhip ftill in that Mind, fo fome Gentleman or other fhall fcape a predeftinate scratcht Face. Beat. Scratching could not make it worse, an 'twere fuch a Face as yours were.

Bene. Well you are a rare Parrat Teacher.

Beat. A Bird of my Tongue, is better than a Beast of yours.

Bene. I would my Horfe had the speed of your Tongue, and fo good a Continuer; but keep your way a God's Name, I have done.

Beat. You always end with a Jade's Trick, I know of old.

you

Pedro. This is the fum of all: Leonato, Signior Claudio, and Signior Benedick; my dear Friend Leonate hath invited you all, I tell you we fhall ftay here at the leaft a Month, and he heartily prays fome Occafion may detain us longer: I dare fwear he is no Hypocrite, but prays from his Heart.

Leon. If you fwear, my Lord, you fhall not be forfworn; let me bid you welcome, my Lord, being reconciled to the Prince your Brother; I owe you all Duty.

John. I thank you, I am not of many Words, but I thank you.

Leon. Please it your Grace lead on?

Pedro, Your Hand Leonato, we will go together.

Exeunt all but Benedick and Claudio. Claud. Benedick, didft thou note the Daughter of Signior Leonato.

Bene. I noted her not, but I look'd on her.
Claud. Is the not a modeft young Lady?

Bene.